Traveling bag



Feb. 10 1953 D. KORCHMAR 2,627,952

TRAVELING BAG Flled Dec 7.. 1950 3 Sheets-Skeet l INVENTOR. fl /smzww KTTOIZAIEYS Feb. 10, 1953 D. KORCHMAR 2,627,952

TRAVELING BAG Filed Dec. 7, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

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rr-0A 7 Patented Feb. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAVELING BAG not Koren-mar, Cincinnati, Ohio Application December 7, 1950, Serial No. inset 1 Giaim. 1

This invention relates tohand luggage and particularly to a traveling bag of the type which is adapted to perform the double function of an over-night bag and a bidet case.

Due partly to the increase in the speed of travel on airlines an'd fa'st trains, there has come to be an increasing demand for a single article of luggage to contain the =chang'es of clothing and accoutrements needed for over-night travel as well 'as the papers, books and the like required for a business appointment.

It is desirable that an article of luggage of this type be sufiiciently'cornmodiousto hold-everything that is reasonably required, but at the same time that it not be unduly bulky so as to prevent the ready placement of it under seats and on luggage racks and the ready handling both in travel and in a business office. It is desirable that provision be made for the storing of papers and books so that they will not become torn or mussed during travel and can be kept segregated from the articles of clothing. It is also desirable that the articles of apparel, including particularly shirts and nightwear, be stored and maintained in such a way that they do not become unduly wrinkled or dirty. A further requirement is that the bag resemble as much as possible in "exterior appearance "a conventionalbrief case, as the ordinary businessman is loath to'appear ata business appointment with a rectangular suitcase. For th'i's'rea'son, a satchel type of bag in which the sides spread "outwardly from a centrally disposed opening extending lengthwise of the bag is greatly preferred.

With the foregoing requirements in "mind, one of the objects of the present invention'has been to provide a combination brief case and overnight bag which is divided into a plurality of interior compartments, one of said compartments being particularly adapted for holding articles of wearing apparel and toilet accoutrements segregated from the rest of the bag.

Another object of the invention has been to provide in a single article of luggage at combination brief case and over-night bag compartmented for holding both articles of Wearing apparel and business papers, the compartment adapted to hold the articles of wearing" apparel being reinforced at the bottom and atthe ends to prevent the crushing and mussing o'f such items of apparel as shirts and 'the'like, and-being enclosed at the top to prevent the entry of dirt and dust.

Another object has been to provide an article of luggage of the general character described in 2 which the members adapted to reinforce the b'ctton'i 'and'ends or the apparel "compartment can be uickly and easily folded back out or i'reinforcing position to adapt the entire article to function as an ordinary compartmented brief case.

Other and further objects and advantages will be apparent from the further "and more detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation 'of' an article of luggage of the preferred type of the invention in closed position.

Figure 2 is an end new or the bag shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3, Figure 2,-sh'owing the reinforcing members'for the apparel compartment in retracted position.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure '3 showing the reinforcing members for the apparel corn partment in extended position.

Figure 5 is a sectional view alon the line 5-5, Figure 3.

Figure 6 is 'asectional view along the l-i-iie t=-t, Figure 4.

Figure '7 is a sectional view along the line !=1, Figure 6.

Figure '8 is a sectional new along the line 8B,'Figure I.

Referring again to the drawingsfor a further and more detailed description o f the invention,

the article of luggage or bag designate-d generally as It) 'and'emb'odyin'g in its interior the general principles of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The bag which is preferably of the type conventionally referred to as satchel or valise includes side walls ll'l"l ,'end walls l2l2, a bottom l3 and a handle Hi. As-illustrated the handle is preferablyhingedly mounted at its'ends on brackets l5 afiixed to 2. turned over upper'edge 23 of one of the si'd'e'walls H. A lock 16 positioned on 'one side wall is adapted to engage witha'catch I8 affix'edto the extended end of the strap l1 which issecured tothe othersid'e wall. Tighteningstraiis I9'are securedtobuckles 20 and have their-exte'ndedend's held down by loops 2!. Diagonal reinforcing members 22 are extended from a central po'int 'on the sides of the bag to the corners on both sides'for strengthening and adding rigidity to the bag. The upper edges 23 of the side walls of the body are reinforced and are pivotally interconnected as at 24 to permit spreading of the side walls to and from one another to open the bag. The interior is compartmented by the partition and 26 which extend from the bottom of the article to a point just above the pivotal connection 24 and divide the interior into an apparel compartment 21, a central compartment 28 and a side compartment 29. It will be appreciated that the foregoing is not a completely detailed description of the exterior construction of the article, but since the invention is entirely directed to the interior construction, it is believed that the description will be found sufiicient for the present purposes.

As illustrated particularly in Figures 3 and 4, the compartment 2'! established by the side wall ll of the bag and the partition 26 is particularly adapted to function as the apparel compartment. The partition wall 26 preferably ha afiixed to it an envelope member 30 for storing such articles as handkerchiefs or shaving articles. The securing flap 3| of the envelope is adapted to be held closed by snap fastener studs 32 engaging with snap fastener catches (not shown). A pair of end wall reinforcing members 33 are hingedly secured at each side along the line of juncture between the partition 26 and the end wall I2. These are of rigid construction, such as covered fibre board or the like, and are preferably of a width substantially equal to the end of the compartment extending upwardly about to the pivotal connection 24 so that when in extended position, they will reinforce the end walls I2i2 and provide in effect a rigid end walled compartment comparatively immune to the crushing otherwise resulting from a sideways telescoping of the bag. In the retracted position illustrated in Figure 3, the reinforcing member 331 are adapted to be folded back and held in position against the compartment wall 26 by the tabs 34 having positioned at the end thereof snap fastener studs 35 for engaging snap fastener catches positioned on the reinforcing element, but not shown. In extended position, the reinforcing members are adapted to be aflixed securely to the end walls by means of the same snap fastener studs utilized to secure the members to the compartment wall 26, the fastener catch being in this instance positioned on the end wall l2 of the bag.

As illustrated likewise in Figures 3 and 4, a bottom reinforcing member 33 is hingedly secured at the line of juncture between the partition member 29 and the bottom [3 of the bag and is adapted to be folded out of position as illustrated in Figure 3 or into bottom reinforcing position as shown in Figure 4. This member likewise is of stiff and rigid construction to assist in maintaining a fully reinforced apparel compartment and to protect the articles of wearing apparel from forces exerted through the bottom of the bag.

As illustrated particularly in Figure 8, a flap 3? is preferably formed on the inner surface of the side wall H. When apparel has been placed in the apparel compartment, this flap is adapted to be folded over the top of the apparel compartment in the manner illustrated in Figure 7 and secured by snap fastener catches 38 to studs 39 positioned on the inner wall of partition 26, thereby protecting the apparel disposed in the apparel compartment from dust, dirt and the like emanating from the other portions of the bag and in eifect entirely sealing off the apparel compartment.

As illustrated particularly in Figure 6, a bottom reinforcing member 49 of similar construction to the member 36 is preferably adapted to space and reinforce the base of the central compartment 28. This member is preferably hingedly secured at the line of juncture between the partition 25 and the bottom l3, and if desired, particularly when the article is functioning as a brief case, it may be folded upwardly against the partition 25.

It will be apparent from the above that the structure provided while simple is very effectively adapted to perform the dual function of a brief case and over-night bag. When used as a brief case, the disposition of the reinforcing members 33, 36 and 4B is comparatively immaterial, although preferably they are intended to be folded out of the way in inoperative position. When the bag is used for over-night purposes, the reinforcing members are extended, the flap 31 is positioned and secured and an eifective apparel compartment is provided without disturbing the utility of the balance of the bag for other purposes.

While the particular type of bag having an opening along the upper central edges is preferred for the purposes of the invention, it will be apparent that effective results can be obtained in bags of other types. It will also be apparent that the exact material from which the bag is formed is not an essential feature of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

In an article of luggage comprising a pair of side walls, a pairof end walls and a bottom, said article of luggage having a plurality of vertically disposed partition walls for dividing the interior of the article into compartments lengthwise of the article, means for selectively reinforcing the end walls and base of one of said compartment to adapt the same for the holding of apparel, said means comprising a pair of rigid flaps, said flaps being pivotally mounted on vertical axes one at each end of said apparel compartment and being adapted to swing on said axes from a position adjacent the partition wall of the apparel compartment to a position adjacent to and reinforcing the end walls of said compartment, means for selectively securing the flaps to the partition wall and to the end walls, a rigid bottom reinforcing member pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis on the partition wall at the base thereof and being adapted to be swung to a position parallel to and closely adjacent the bottom, a flexible flap adapted to be stretched across the top of said apparel compartment for enclosing said compartment, and means for securing said flap in such position, whereby said apparel compartment is completely segregated from the other portions of the interior of the article and reinforced at its ends and on the bottom.

DON KORCHMAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,273,875 Kosta July 30, 1918 1,316,335 Schoenborn Sept. 16, 1919 1,629,362 Robert May 17, 1927 1,633,991 Lifton June 28, 1927 2,249,905 Lifton July 22, 1941 2,560,297 Lifton July 10, 1951 

